JOHOR BAHRU – Continuous heavy rain which began this morning has caused flooding in several districts of Johor.
In Johor Bahru, seven families were forced to evacuate to a flood-relief centre from their homes in Kampung Laut, Batu 10 which were inundated by two-feet of floodwaters.
Skudai Fire and Rescue Station Operations Commander Senior Assistant Fire Superintendent Mohd Riduan Akhyar said the victims comprising 14 men, seven women, four children and a baby were evacuated to Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu 10.
A total of 11 firefighters with two machines were deployed to the scene at 12.44 pm following a distress call, he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, in Kluang, a total of 12 homes at the SPKR Yap Tau Sah housing area in Kampung Palembang and Kampung Contoh were flooded after heavy rainfall that lasted for seven hours beginning 5 am today.
A spokesperson with the Kluang district disaster management committee said the heavy downpour had also affected several main roads which were only accessible by heavy vehicles.
The affected roads are Jalan Kluang – Mersing (near Econsave supermarket); Jalan Mengkibol – Renggam; Jalan Batu 4 – Mersing and Jalan Kluang – Mersing (near the office of Johor State Farmers’ Organisation, Kahang).
Checks by the Civil Defence Force (APM) around Kluang at 2 pm today, found that the floodwaters were receding.
No temporary evacuation centres were opened at the moment, the spokesperson said, adding that close monitoring would be conducted from time to time.
Weather alert
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) earlier in the day had issued an orange-level warning, indicative of a bad weather situation, with heavy rains expected in some areas in Pahang and Johor until tomorrow.
Its director-general Jailan Simon, in a statement today, said that a yellow-level weather alert was also issued for several other districts in the two states as well as in Kelantan, Terengganu and Sabah for the same period.
He said that the orange-level weather warning also involves Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin districts in Pahang; Segamat, Mersing and Kluang in Johor.
He said the yellow-level weather warning involves Lipis, Jerantut, Temerloh, Maran and Bera in Pahang; Batu Pahat, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru in Johor; west coast of Sabah (Tuaran, Ranau, Kota Belud), Sandakan (Telupid, Beluran, Sandakan) and Kudat as well as Kelantan dan Terengganu.
“During this period, strong winds can occur in coastal areas in the east coast states of the Peninsula.
“At the same time, most areas in the west coast states of the Peninsula; Sarawak and Sabah are expected to experience thunderstorms and heavy rains along with strong winds, especially in the afternoon until early evening.
“The situation has the potential to cause flash floods in low-lying areas as well as damage to structures that are not strongly built,” he said.
Jailan said that strong northeast winds of more than 60 kph, with waves of up to 4.5 metres, are expected to occur in the waters of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Sarawak, Federal Territory of Labuan, and Sabah during the period.
He said that the phenomenon could pose a risk of overflow of seawater on the coast and estuaries in these areas.
Road closed
The road along Pantai Seberang Takir from the drawbridge meanwhile has been closed to all vehicles effective today until Sunday (Jan 3).
The Public Works Department said the temporary closure is to safeguard road users following the high tide phenomenon incident last night in which seawater overflowed onto roads and residential areas in several districts in the state, which also saw rubbish and debris strewn across.
“Cleaning works are going on and road users are advised to use alternative routes. Warning signages and notices have also been put up,” the department said in a statement today.
Besides Pantai Seberang Takir in Kuala Nerus, a three-kilometre stretch of the road at the junction of Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz Dungun to Jalan Kubur Sura in Teluk Lipat, Dungun is also closed to all vehicles.
Dungun Civil Defence Force officer, Captain (PA) Ahmad Kamal Hakim Ngah said big waves and strong winds had hit several coastal areas yesterday.
“Barrier cones have been placed and road users have to use other alternative routes to go to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Dungun.
“Cleanup works are being carried out and the people are advised to stay away from the area for their own safety,” he said.
